Chapter 3 Early African Societies and the Bantu Migrations
1.Early Agricultural Society in Africa
A. Climatic change and the development of agriculture in Africa
1. Sahara region used to be grassy steppe lands with various lakes, rivers, and streams (10,000 B.C.E.)
a. Many peoples lived by hunting wild cattle, collecting wild grains, and fishing
b. Eastern Sudan began herding cattle and collecting grains (9000 B.C.E.)
c. Permanent settlements and the growing of sorghum and yams (7500 B.C.E.), later cultivating of gourds, watermelons, and cotton occurred and peoples obtained sheep and goats
d. Small-scale states with semi-divine rulers (5000 B.C.E.)
e. developed religious beliefs that reflected agricultural society, associated it with rain because that was a growing concern
2. Climate became hotter and drier after 5000 B.C.E. and turned from rich grassland to barren dessert
a. People were driven into river regions--Nile river, lake Chad, and territory now known as northern Uganda
b. Annual flooding made rich soil for agriculture
B. Egypt and Nubia: "gifts of the Nile"
1. Egypt--lower third of Nile River; Nubia--middle third of Nile
2. Because of Egypt's prosperity in agriculture, resulting from their larger flood plain, Greek historian Herodotus proclaimed it "the gift of the Nile"
3. After 5000 B.C.E. peoples cultivated gourds and watermelons, domesticated donkeys and cattle (from Sudan), and grew wheat and barley (from Mesopotamia)
4. Agriculture was easy in Egypt (due to Nile flooding) but more work in Nubia, agriculture was both society's ways of life
5. States began to emerge by 4000 B.C.E., small kingdoms formed by 3300 B.C.E. because of need for formal organization and recognized official authorities
-Amanda Nelson
Menes
Expensive kingdom Ta-Seti prosperedabout 3400 to 3200 B.C.E. extended its rule north of the Nile.
Egypt started following a different path from the smaller Nubian kingdoms after 3100 B.C.E.
Tradition says that unified rule came to Egypt about 3100 B.C.E. in the person of a conqueror named Menes.
Menes was a minor official from southern Egypt who's power extended his authority north and into the Delta.
He found the city of Memphis became cultural and political center of ancient Egypt.
The archaic Period and the old kingdom
the power of the pharaohs was greatest during the first millennium of Egyptian history (3100-2660 B.C.E)
the most enduring symbols are the pyramids constructed during the old kingdom during the century 2600 to 2300 B.C.E.
the largest one is the pyramid of Khufu, a.k.a. Cheops
Relations Between Egypt and Nubia
Egyptians were interested in Nubian for political and commercial reasons
Nubians had interest in Egypt, they wanted to protect their independence from powerful neighbors in the North by controlling trade down the Nile
The Early Kingdom of Kush
Tensions led to violence between Egypt and Nubia throughout the Archaic Period and the old kingdom
Pharaonic forces destroyed the Nubian kingdom of Ta-Seti soon after unification of Egypt
Lead to Egyptian domination of lower Nubia for more than half a millennium, about 3000 to 2400 B.C.E.
About 2500 B.C.E. they established a powerful kingdom called Kush (wealthy state dominated upper regions of the Nile)
The Middle Kingdom
At the end of the Old Kingdom, high agricultural productivity made many regions of Egypt prosperous and powerful, being able to ignore the Pharaohs and pursue their own interests
Middle Kingdom established (2040-1640 B.C.E.)
The Hyksos
They Hyksos were foreign rulers
Hyksos had bronze weapons and bronze tipped arrows, Egyptians relied mostly on wooden weapons and arrows with stone heads
About 1674 B.C.E. Hyksos captured Memphis
Eventually Egyptian leaders pushed the Hyksos out of the Nile Delta and founded and powerful state know as the New Kingdom (1550-1070 B.C.E.)
The New Kingdom
Agricultural surpluses supported a population of perhaps four million people
Egyptian Imperialism
With local resistance, Egyptians were forced out of Nubia ad Southwest Asia, then Kushian and Assyrian armies invaded Egypt
The Revived Kingdom of Kush
About tenth century B.C.E. there was a new kingdom of Kush with a capital at Napala
King Kashta conquered Thebes about 760 B.C.E.
In the mid-seventh century B.C.E. the Assyrians invaded Egypt
Adriana Martinez
Interaction Between Humans and the Environment Demography
Mummified their dead, placed in tombs. Food offerings found in tombs were proof of a thriving agricultural society.
Egyptians and Nubians traded with Mesopotamians, Phoenicians, and Africans as well as others.
Economic competition led to war and conflict with other societies.
Ethiopian migrants introduced new language to lower Egypt(10,000 B.C.E)
Small kingdoms organized public life. Migration Patterns of Settlement
Egyptians took full agricultural advantage of the Nile's annual flooding, food surplus boosted population.
As climate grew hotter, Sudanic cultivators moved to the Nile and introduced new crops and domesticated animals (5,000 B.C.E)
Egyptians and Nubians grew increasingly dependent on agriculture(5,000 B.C.E)
The Nile mostly determined settlement patterns in Egypt, was essential for survival and agricultural prosperity.
Villages along the Nile began to regularly trade(4,000 B.C.E) Technology
Utilized various irrigation techniques with water from the Nile
Built dikes to protect fields from floods, water catchment basins for irrigation(4,000 B.C.E)
Jarrad Nitzel
Development and Interaction of Cultures
a. Developed cultural traditions due to abundant crops
b. Memphis was the cultural center of ancient Egypt when Egypt was unified under Menes
c. Egypt and Nubia were very confrontational which led to frequent violence
d. Nubian people often joined Egypt cities and assimilated themselves to their culture in the pursuit of better opportunities
e. Egypt control over region led to many revolts from the taken over regions, which led to being taken over by a series of conquerer
1. Religions Belief systems, Philosophies, and Ideologies
a. Agriculture influenced religion; many Egyptians believed fervently in the life beyond the grave
b. This is because they likened the human experience to the agricultural cycles, which includes the regenerating spring
c. Sudanic people viewed kings as deities, killed servants and buried them with the kings so that they could continue to serve their masters
d. When Egypt was unified the Sudanic idea that kings were divine continued into the ruling Pharoahs
e. Believed Pharoah would merge with Amon (the sun god) after his death
f. Pyramids and other enormous monuments made under the pharoahs direction helped the citizens believe they were gods
2. Science and Technology
a. Took inspiration for political and social organization from both Mesopotamia and Nubia
b. Migrants from Red Sea hills introduced the collecting of wild grains
c. Introduced the ancestral Coptic language
d. Sudanic people introduced melons and gourds as well as cattle and donkeys
e. Mesopotamia introduced wheat and barley to the region
f. Sudan kings spread the idea of small kingdoms into Egypt
g. Hyksos introduced horses to Egypt
h. Hittites and Mesopotamians introduced horse-drawn chariots
i. Hyksos control over Memphis led weapon advancement to an Egypt in revolt, mainly bronze weapons and chariots
j. Also this led to the expansion of Egypt, in order to prevent a new invasion they took control of neighboring areas.
3. The Arts and Architecture
a. Pyramids were made with precise cutting of 2.3 million, 15 ton blocks
b. Hundreds of architects and engineers contributed to these wonders
c. New Kingdom pharoahs built temples, palaces, and monumental statues to show their power and authority
-Trey Van Treeck
State Building, Expansion and Conflict
- Egypt/Nubia: Dense population led to government
-Egypt and Nubia did not face threats that Mesopotamia did: Red Sea, Mediterranean, deserts protected them
-Need to maintain order/coordinate projects led to state creation
-4000 BCE: Villages traded and cooperated with irrigation
-Originally, Egypt/Nubia states were small kingdoms
-Egypt had an advantage: More arable land ie. bigger population
-Egypt was united from Nile delta to River's first cataract by Menes by 3100 BCE
-Menes: minor official from S Egypt who gradually took power: Founded Memphis, at juncture of Upper/Lower Egypt, it was the capital of ancient egypt
-Menes and successors built centralized government ruled by pharoah: god in human form
-Pharoahs were poweful from Archaic Period (3100-2660 BCE) to Old Kingdom (2660-21600 BCE)
-Ex. of pharoah power: Pyramids
-During these time periods: frequent violence between Egypt and Nubia
-Egyptian forces destroyed Ta-Seti had dominated militarily due to unified empire: Nubian leaders unified power and created Kush
-Kush (capital city: Kerma): wasn't as powerful as Egypt, but wealthy and sizable, occasionaly threatened borders of Egypt
-Were some diplomatic ties with each other despite violence, ie. Egyptian explorers and Nubian mercenaries
Turmoil and Empire
-Central state declined due to rising power of individual regions: Pharoah rule restablished with Middle Kingdom (2040-1640 BCE): These rulers weren't as powerful but created a stable Egypt and managed foreign relations
-Hyksos (Semitic people from SW Asia): Invaded with horses and chariots (significant military advantage) and bronze weapons (also big advantage)
-Hyskos captured Memphis and gained control, pretty much instituting a puppet state and levied tribute
-Egyptians nobles adapted advanced military tactics and rebelled against Hyksos, created New Kingdom (1550-1070 BCE)
-New Kingdom prospered and instituted a bureaucracy
-New Kingdom leaders pursued conquest beyond the Nile valley/delta: tried to prevent new invasions by seizing lands that might be a later threat: Took up much of E Mediterranean and N Africa; Also reinvaded Nubia and destroyed Kerma and other small states
-Empire began to decline: conquered lands began to rebel: Some lands successfully broke away, and then Egypt was invaded by Kushites and Assyrians.
-Egypts retreated from Nubia, and Nubians organized a new Kush (capital city: Napata) and later invaded a fractious Egypt, Nubian King Kashta conquered Thebes (760 BCE) established Kushites and and claimed title of pharaoh
-Assyrian pressed from the North (with Iron weapons) , so Egypt was caught between a rock and hard place. By mid sixth century BCE Assyria took Egypt and drove out the Kushites
- Egypt was like Mesopotamia: It eventually fell to emperors who were leading conquests and establishing vast empires
-Cooper Christiancy
Creation, Expansion, and Interaction of Economic Systems
- When Mesopotamians built a productive agricultural society, Southwest Asia and the Indo-Europeans started cultivating and herding animals they had domesticated.
- African Agriculture started in Sudan and worked its way to the Nile River Valley and sub-Saharan Africa.
- Nile Valley: Abundant harvests supported fast-growing population
- Sudan: After 9000 B.C.E. they became nomadic herders, collected grain, and started cultiviating yams. They cultivated various other items later on.
- Egypt and Nile: Around 10,000 B.C.E. they started collecting wild grain
- Egypt and Nile: As climate got hotter, they were introduced to crops like gourds and watermelon, wheat, and barley.
- Egypt: 84,000 laborers had to work approximately 80 days per year for 20 years to build the pyramid of Khufu.
- Egypt: Wanted to trade with Nubians for gold, ivory, ebony, and precious stones.
- Hyksos: introduced Egyptians to horse drawn carraiges.
- Hyksos: More advanced weapons made from bronze.
-Liza Piccoli
Development and transformation of social structures
Sudanic peoples formed small monarchies ruled by kings who were seen as divine or partially divine beings by about 5000 B.C.E. Those kings had royal servants who, after the king were to die, were executed to be entombed as well, assuming the kings would need servants in the after-life
Many human inhabitants of Sudanic region were hunters and gatherers and after about 9000 B.C.E peoples of eastern Sudan became nomadic herders and began domesticating cattle.
The notion of divine rulers reached Egypt (after 4000 B.C.E) and later spread farther down the Nile
Dense population caused the need to keep order and organize projects which lead to the Egyptians' and Nubians' need to make states and recognize official authorities.
Nubian merchants often married Egyptian women.
Early Pharaohs claimed to be gods
Egyptian rulers unified all territory between the Nile delta and river’s first cataract
It was a unified kingdom larger and more powerful than any other Nile state (about 3100 B.C.E)
A conqueror named Menes founded city of Memphis (cultural and political center of ancient Egypt). Menes and his men built centralized state ruled by pharaohs
The power of the pharaohs was greatest during first millennium of Egyptian history (Archaic Period 3100-2600 B.C.E) and Old Kingdom (2669-2160 B.C.E). The Pharaohs of Middle Kingdom were not as powerful. Pharaohs of New Kingdom (1550-1070 B.C.E) ruled over a prosperous society
84,000 laborers forced to work eighty days per year to build Khufu’s pyramid (Cheops)
Agriculture supported around a 4 million population in Egypt. Bureaucracy divided responsibilities between different offices. One department was in control of court and royal estates and others with military forces, religious cults, treasury, agricultural affairs, local government and administration of territories.
Chapter 3 Early African Societies and the Bantu Migrations
1.Early Agricultural Society in Africa
A. Climatic change and the development of agriculture in Africa
1. Sahara region used to be grassy steppe lands with various lakes, rivers, and streams (10,000 B.C.E.)
a. Many peoples lived by hunting wild cattle, collecting wild grains, and fishing
b. Eastern Sudan began herding cattle and collecting grains (9000 B.C.E.)
c. Permanent settlements and the growing of sorghum and yams (7500 B.C.E.), later cultivating of gourds, watermelons, and cotton occurred and peoples obtained sheep and goats
d. Small-scale states with semi-divine rulers (5000 B.C.E.)
e. developed religious beliefs that reflected agricultural society, associated it with rain because that was a growing concern
2. Climate became hotter and drier after 5000 B.C.E. and turned from rich grassland to barren dessert
a. People were driven into river regions--Nile river, lake Chad, and territory now known as northern Uganda
b. Annual flooding made rich soil for agriculture
B. Egypt and Nubia: "gifts of the Nile"
1. Egypt--lower third of Nile River; Nubia--middle third of Nile
2. Because of Egypt's prosperity in agriculture, resulting from their larger flood plain, Greek historian Herodotus proclaimed it "the gift of the Nile"
3. After 5000 B.C.E. peoples cultivated gourds and watermelons, domesticated donkeys and cattle (from Sudan), and grew wheat and barley (from Mesopotamia)
4. Agriculture was easy in Egypt (due to Nile flooding) but more work in Nubia, agriculture was both society's ways of life
5. States began to emerge by 4000 B.C.E., small kingdoms formed by 3300 B.C.E. because of need for formal organization and recognized official authorities
-Amanda Nelson
Menes
The archaic Period and the old kingdom
Relations Between Egypt and Nubia
The Early Kingdom of Kush
The Middle Kingdom
The Hyksos
The New Kingdom
Egyptian Imperialism
The Revived Kingdom of Kush
- About tenth century B.C.E. there was a new kingdom of Kush with a capital at Napala
- King Kashta conquered Thebes about 760 B.C.E.
- In the mid-seventh century B.C.E. the Assyrians invaded Egypt
Adriana MartinezInteraction Between Humans and the Environment
Demography
Mummified their dead, placed in tombs. Food offerings found in tombs were proof of a thriving agricultural society.
Egyptians and Nubians traded with Mesopotamians, Phoenicians, and Africans as well as others.
Economic competition led to war and conflict with other societies.
Ethiopian migrants introduced new language to lower Egypt(10,000 B.C.E)
Small kingdoms organized public life.
Migration Patterns of Settlement
Egyptians took full agricultural advantage of the Nile's annual flooding, food surplus boosted population.
As climate grew hotter, Sudanic cultivators moved to the Nile and introduced new crops and domesticated animals (5,000 B.C.E)
Egyptians and Nubians grew increasingly dependent on agriculture(5,000 B.C.E)
The Nile mostly determined settlement patterns in Egypt, was essential for survival and agricultural prosperity.
Villages along the Nile began to regularly trade(4,000 B.C.E)
Technology
Utilized various irrigation techniques with water from the Nile
Built dikes to protect fields from floods, water catchment basins for irrigation(4,000 B.C.E)
Jarrad Nitzel
Development and Interaction of Cultures
a. Developed cultural traditions due to abundant crops
b. Memphis was the cultural center of ancient Egypt when Egypt was unified under Menes
c. Egypt and Nubia were very confrontational which led to frequent violence
d. Nubian people often joined Egypt cities and assimilated themselves to their culture in the pursuit of better opportunities
e. Egypt control over region led to many revolts from the taken over regions, which led to being taken over by a series of conquerer
1. Religions Belief systems, Philosophies, and Ideologies
a. Agriculture influenced religion; many Egyptians believed fervently in the life beyond the grave
b. This is because they likened the human experience to the agricultural cycles, which includes the regenerating spring
c. Sudanic people viewed kings as deities, killed servants and buried them with the kings so that they could continue to serve their masters
d. When Egypt was unified the Sudanic idea that kings were divine continued into the ruling Pharoahs
e. Believed Pharoah would merge with Amon (the sun god) after his death
f. Pyramids and other enormous monuments made under the pharoahs direction helped the citizens believe they were gods
2. Science and Technology
a. Took inspiration for political and social organization from both Mesopotamia and Nubia
b. Migrants from Red Sea hills introduced the collecting of wild grains
c. Introduced the ancestral Coptic language
d. Sudanic people introduced melons and gourds as well as cattle and donkeys
e. Mesopotamia introduced wheat and barley to the region
f. Sudan kings spread the idea of small kingdoms into Egypt
g. Hyksos introduced horses to Egypt
h. Hittites and Mesopotamians introduced horse-drawn chariots
i. Hyksos control over Memphis led weapon advancement to an Egypt in revolt, mainly bronze weapons and chariots
j. Also this led to the expansion of Egypt, in order to prevent a new invasion they took control of neighboring areas.
3. The Arts and Architecture
a. Pyramids were made with precise cutting of 2.3 million, 15 ton blocks
b. Hundreds of architects and engineers contributed to these wonders
c. New Kingdom pharoahs built temples, palaces, and monumental statues to show their power and authority
-Trey Van Treeck
State Building, Expansion and Conflict
- Egypt/Nubia: Dense population led to government
-Egypt and Nubia did not face threats that Mesopotamia did: Red Sea, Mediterranean, deserts protected them
-Need to maintain order/coordinate projects led to state creation
-4000 BCE: Villages traded and cooperated with irrigation
-Originally, Egypt/Nubia states were small kingdoms
Unification of Egupt
-Competition led to skirmishes between kingdoms
-Some overcame neighbors and expanded: EX. Nubian Kingdom Ta-Seti (3400-3200 BCE)
-Egypt had an advantage: More arable land ie. bigger population
-Egypt was united from Nile delta to River's first cataract by Menes by 3100 BCE
-Menes: minor official from S Egypt who gradually took power: Founded Memphis, at juncture of Upper/Lower Egypt, it was the capital of ancient egypt
-Menes and successors built centralized government ruled by pharoah: god in human form
-Pharoahs were poweful from Archaic Period (3100-2660 BCE) to Old Kingdom (2660-21600 BCE)
-Ex. of pharoah power: Pyramids
-During these time periods: frequent violence between Egypt and Nubia
-Egyptian forces destroyed Ta-Seti had dominated militarily due to unified empire: Nubian leaders unified power and created Kush
-Kush (capital city: Kerma): wasn't as powerful as Egypt, but wealthy and sizable, occasionaly threatened borders of Egypt
-Were some diplomatic ties with each other despite violence, ie. Egyptian explorers and Nubian mercenaries
Turmoil and Empire
-Central state declined due to rising power of individual regions: Pharoah rule restablished with Middle Kingdom (2040-1640 BCE): These rulers weren't as powerful but created a stable Egypt and managed foreign relations
-Hyksos (Semitic people from SW Asia): Invaded with horses and chariots (significant military advantage) and bronze weapons (also big advantage)
-Hyskos captured Memphis and gained control, pretty much instituting a puppet state and levied tribute
-Egyptians nobles adapted advanced military tactics and rebelled against Hyksos, created New Kingdom (1550-1070 BCE)
-New Kingdom prospered and instituted a bureaucracy
-New Kingdom leaders pursued conquest beyond the Nile valley/delta: tried to prevent new invasions by seizing lands that might be a later threat: Took up much of E Mediterranean and N Africa; Also reinvaded Nubia and destroyed Kerma and other small states
-Empire began to decline: conquered lands began to rebel: Some lands successfully broke away, and then Egypt was invaded by Kushites and Assyrians.
-Egypts retreated from Nubia, and Nubians organized a new Kush (capital city: Napata) and later invaded a fractious Egypt, Nubian King Kashta conquered Thebes (760 BCE) established Kushites and and claimed title of pharaoh
-Assyrian pressed from the North (with Iron weapons) , so Egypt was caught between a rock and hard place. By mid sixth century BCE Assyria took Egypt and drove out the Kushites
- Egypt was like Mesopotamia: It eventually fell to emperors who were leading conquests and establishing vast empires
-Cooper Christiancy
Creation, Expansion, and Interaction of Economic Systems
- When Mesopotamians built a productive agricultural society, Southwest Asia and the Indo-Europeans started cultivating and herding animals they had domesticated.
- African Agriculture started in Sudan and worked its way to the Nile River Valley and sub-Saharan Africa.
- Nile Valley: Abundant harvests supported fast-growing population
- Sudan: After 9000 B.C.E. they became nomadic herders, collected grain, and started cultiviating yams. They cultivated various other items later on.
- Egypt and Nile: Around 10,000 B.C.E. they started collecting wild grain
- Egypt and Nile: As climate got hotter, they were introduced to crops like gourds and watermelon, wheat, and barley.
- Egypt: 84,000 laborers had to work approximately 80 days per year for 20 years to build the pyramid of Khufu.
- Egypt: Wanted to trade with Nubians for gold, ivory, ebony, and precious stones.
- Hyksos: introduced Egyptians to horse drawn carraiges.
- Hyksos: More advanced weapons made from bronze.
-Liza Piccoli
Development and transformation of social structures
- The notion of divine rulers reached Egypt (after 4000 B.C.E) and later spread farther down the Nile
Dense population caused the need to keep order and organize projects which lead to the Egyptians' and Nubians' need to make states and recognize official authorities.- Agriculture supported around a 4 million population in Egypt. Bureaucracy divided responsibilities between different offices. One department was in control of court and royal estates and others with military forces, religious cults, treasury, agricultural affairs, local government and administration of territories.
-Allie Stamper